Even though the Nuggets are winning, they're not pleased with the way they're winning. There have been a lot of lulls lately, with Denver pulling out victories late.

Still, this is a good problem to have. Many NBA teams are trying to muster wins any way possible, while the Nuggets, who have a 15-game win streak, understand that playing this way can beat the 76ers and Kings, but probably not the Grizzlies or Clippers.

Perhaps the solution is simple: Get Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler healthy. Both were out against Philadelphia and Sacramento. And the Nuggets were out of sync, falling into victories against lottery-bound teams. But Lawson (heel) and Chandler (shoulder) practiced Sunday and are probable for today's game at New Orleans, another lottery-bound team.

Coach George Karl is trying to change the mind-set of his team heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

"I'll just go on the record for everyone to hear, because what I've been telling the team, for the next 12 games, I don't want to hear about rest," Karl said. "I don't want to hear about we're tired. I want our attitude to be to play the best basketball we've played all year. If you don't want to do that, I'll play somebody else. I don't want to hear 'my body hurts' or 'I'm sore.

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' Everybody plays the same amount of games.

"We have an opportunity, and resting is not going to get us ready for the opportunity. That's how I've always felt. If we had a bunch of 30-year-olds, I might have a different opinion. But we have a bunch of 25-year-olds. Every day we can get a little bit better or a little bit mentally tougher or a little bit more aware of what we have to improve on. That's just how I feel."

Backup boost

Anthony Randolph, one of the nicest guys in the Denver locker room, seldom plays even though the Nuggets thrive on depth. But the 6-foot-11 forward has been a bright spot in the past two games, filling in for Chandler.

Against the 76ers, the LSU product had seven points, three rebounds and three steals in 21 minutes. He blocked the 76ers' potential game-winning shot. Against the Kings, he scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in 16 minutes.

"He's just aggressive. And his pick-and-roll defense is something we like on the court," Karl said. "He has some offensive skills. He shoots too many jump shots for me, but everybody on my team shoots too many jump shots for me."

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